A box full of flies!

Monday, November 28, 2011

What an amazing turnout for the kick-off of another fly tying season. Twenty-nine keen fly tyers came out tonight to learn how to tie Mark Olinger's P-Quad Series. Welcome to the new fly tyers who came out today. We hope you will enjoy the learning and fellowship within the group.

A special thanks to the Central Alberta Chapter of Trout Unlimited for purchasing a camera and projector for the Central Alberta Fly Tyers to use during their Monday night sessions.

There have been a number of different P-Quad variations from both Mark and others depending on what they want the fly to imitate in the water. The original P-Quad included: pheasant, peacock herl, pintail (well barred teal) and partridge; hence the name " P-Quad." Many of the variations maintain the pintail wing and partridge collar. Below are 5 variations including the original. These flies represent damsel nymphs to forage fish depending on how you dress the fly.

Remember to let Bob (just e-mail me) know if you want to take the all day fly tying workshop put on by Phil Rowley on January 7th. The theme is fun with foam. A very appropriate theme considering the cost of hackle these days. For those of you who recall John Howard from Howard's Hackle visiting one of our tying session, he reminded us that hackle will be very hard to come by. The fashion industry is paying big bucks for saddle hackle. John right now is practically sold out!

Next week, Dr. Bill Young will be our guest tyer. I wonder what Bill has up his sleeve. Last year we tied mice and a Pike Popper we named All Sorts (after the licorice of course).

Below, you will see the patterns we tied tonight. See you next week.

Original P-Quad

Mustad 3609B hook sizes 8 to 12 (2xl nymph hook)

Thread: olive or red (6/0)

Weight: .020 lead free wire

Tail: 6-8 pheasant fibers

Rib: gold/copper wire (medium or small)

Body: 3 to 5 strands of peacock herl

Wing: Teal flank well barred

Hackle: Partridge neck feather

Crystal P-Quad

Hook: Mustad 3906B size 8 to 12 (2xl nymph hook)

Thread: Olive 6/0

Weight: .020 lead free wire

Tail: one strand of olive crystal flash doubled over and olive marabou

Rib: medium copper wire

Body: medium olive crystal dubbing

Wing: Rolled teal flank with good barring

Hackle: Partridge neck feather

Psychedelic P-Quad

Hook: Mustad 3906B size 8 to 12 (2xl nymph hook)

Thread: Flame orange 6/0

Weight: .020 lead free wire

Tail: one strand of olive crystal flash doubled over and olive marabou